Material applicator device

ABSTRACT

A support is rotatably mounted within a housing one side of which is open. A plurality of propelling arms are each swingably mounted by the support and are resiliently biased in one direction. The support is rotated during operation to cause the arms to be alternately cocked and released to propel material onto a suitable surface. Feed means is provided for feeding material to the propelling arms and the device is adjustable both in elevation and azimuth. In addition, a moveable framework is provided which enables the applicator device to be adjusted in both vertical and horizontal directions.

United States Patent [151 Holley 1 June 6, 197 2 [54] MATERIAL APPLICATOR DEVICE 2,865,325 12/1958 Leston et al. ..1 l8/D1G. 16 Inventor: Percy y Honey, 1507 Siegfried St. 3,592,393 7/1971 Smden ..222/407 Iona 77901 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves [22] Filed: May 21, 1970 Assistant ExaminerJames M. Slattery pp No 39,317 AttrneyEmory L. Grofi and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. "222/335; 22232476] A pp is rotatably mounted within a housing one Side of Int Cl 6 11/20 which is open. A plurality of propelling arms are each 58] Fwd s 406 516 swingably mounted by the support and are resiliently biased in f one direction. The support is rotated during operation to 1 l 6 cause the arms to be alternately cocked and released to propel material onto a suitable surface. Feed means is provided for feeding material to the propelling arms and the device is ad- [56] References cued justable both in elevation and azimuth. In addition, a movean- STATES PATENTS ble framework is provided which enables the applicator device 3 443 763 5/1969 W K d 239/679 X to be adjusted in both vertical and horizontal directions.

0 or 2,806,636 9/1957 Richards ..222/407 X 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures E) i A I40 I 2 I30 I 44 40 6 64 82 I '20 V" "O I V I22 I e2 I20 W44 '40 l 0 T 46 42 1 y 4 is I30 40 I22 I00 I04 PATENTEDJUH s 1972 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR P. R HOLLEY ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 3. 667. 654

sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR P. R. HOLLEY ATTORNEY MATERIAL APPLICATOR DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for applying material such as masonry or the like onto a wall, metal lath or any wall construction of a building. It is apparent that the device may beemployed for applying other materials, but the structure of the present invention is especially adapted for applying masonry.

It is desirable to provide a power driven device for applying masonry or similar substances to relatively large wall areas so that such operations can be carried out in a most economical manner. In order to accomplish the desired results, it is necessary to provide a construction wherein the material can be propelled a substantial distance from the device, the device being adjustable so as to apply the material over walls of substantial area.

It is accordingly a particular objective of the present inven tion to provide a material applicator device which enables masonry and the like to be propelled with substantially uniform results over relatively large distances and to cover large wall areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a housing which is open on one side thereof to provide a discharge opening, a support being rotatably mounted within the housing. A plurality of propelling arms are each swingably mounted on the support and are resiliently biased in one direction.

Feed means is provided for feeding material to the propelling arms and the housing, and during operation the support is rotated in such a manner as to pick up material from the feed means and cock the propelling arms. These propelling arms are subsequently released so as to propel the masonry material a substantial distance with good accuracy so that a particular wall area can be effectively covered.

The applicator device is so mounted as to be adjustable in both elevation and azimuth so that a wall area can be covered with masonry and the like in a desired manner.

In addition, a moveable framework is provided wherein the applicator device is supported for movement both vertically and horizontally. This framework in turn is moveable whereby maximum mobility and versatility of use of the device is afforded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a material applicator device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

F IG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective exploded view with certain parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a portion of the framework construction shown in FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view illustrating the manner of mounting one of the propelling arms of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a moveable framework includes two pairs of spaced vertically extending end members 10 and 12, the end members at opposite ends of the framework being connected by upper and lower longitudinally extending members 14, while the end members at each end of the framework are connected by upper and lower cross members 16. The framework is supported by four caster wheels 18 at the corners thereof, whereby the framework can be readily moved about a supporting surface.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, the framework includes a movable support means indicated generally by reference character 20, this support means being formed of a plurality of tubular members including two spaced longitudinally extending members 22 joined at opposite ends thereof to transverse members 24 having rollers 26 rotatably joumalled at the outer ends thereof. Members 28 extend upwardly from members 24 at opposite ends of the support means and are connected to transverse members 30 having rollers 32 rotatably joumalled at the opposite ends thereof.

This support means is mounted in the operative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 whereby the rollers 26 and 32 engage the vertical end members 10 and 12 of the framework so that the support means is guided for vertical movement within the framework. Members 30 of the support means are connected with cables 36 which are in turn wound on a small winch mechanism 38 supported by the upper part of the framework, one of said cables passing over an idler pulley 39 at the upper part of the framework. This winch mechanism may be selectively operated for raising and lowering the support means as desired.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, a carriage means includes spaced upper and lower plates 40 and 42 which are suitably connected with one another, plate 40 rotatably supporting four spaced rollers 44 and plate 42 similarly rotatably supporting four spaced rollers 46. When the carriage is mounted in operative position on the support means, rollers 44 and 46 engage the upper and lower portions respectively of the longitudinal members 22 of the support means previously described whereby the carriage is mounted for reciprocation back and forth in a horizontal direction throughout the length of the support means.

A cable 50 is connected by fitting 52 to the upper plate 40 of the carriage, this cable being wound around a winch mechanism 54 mounted on the support means 20, the cable also being wound around an idler roller 56 mounted at the opposite end of the support means. Winch mechanism 54 may be selectively operated for moving the carriage in a horizontal direction as required.

A mounting base for the applicator device is indicated generally by reference numeral 60 and includes a circular bottom member 62 which rests upon the upper surface of plate 40 and is pivotally connected therewith by a pin 64. Member 62 has a pair of arcuate slots 66 therein which are adapted to receive fastener assembly 68 which passes through suitable holes in plate 40 and through slots 66 whereby the azimuth of the applicator device supported on the mounting base can be selectively adjusted.

The mounting base also includes a vertically upstanding member 69 which is fixed to bottom member 62. Member 69 has a central hole 70 formed therethrough for receiving a pivot pin, and a pair of arcuate slots 72 are also provided through member 69.

The applicator device includes a mounting portion 76 having a plurality of apertures 78 formed therethrough for receiving a pivot pin 80 and fastener devices 82 whereby the elevation of the applicator device may be selectively adjusted as desired during operation of the device.

The applicator device includes a feed hopper 80 open at the top thereof, the feed hopper opening downwardly into a laterally extending passage 82 which receives a screw-type conveyor 84 conveying material from the hopper outwardly as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The screw conveyor is connected with a drive pulley 86 which in turn is connected by drive belt 88 with a suitable engine or motor 90 mounted on the carriage for rotating the screw conveyor during operation of the device.

The applicator device also includes a housing indicated generally by reference numeral 96, this housing comprising a pair of opposite parallel side walls 98 joined by a peripheral wall 100. The housing is open at one side thereof and includes a pair of opposite upper side edges 102 as defining an inlet opening to the housing. A pair of opposite lower edges 104 of the housing define a discharge opening therebetween.

A support is indicated generally by reference numeral 110 and includes a pair of spaced circular plates 112 operatively connected with a shaft 114 for rotation therewith. This shaft has a drive pulley 116 mounted on the outer end thereof which in turn is connected by drive belt 1 18 with a suitable engine or motor 120 mounted on the carriage whereby the support may be continuously rotated during operation of the apparatus.

Four shafts 120 extend between and are connected to plates 112, each of these shafts serving to swingably support a propelling arm 122. As seen most clearly in FIG. 7, each of these propelling arms includes an integral bent-over hub portion 124 which serves to swingably mount the arm on an associated shaft 120. Each propelling arm also includes an enlarged outer blade portion 126 for engaging and propelling masonry and the like from the device.

it will be noted that four similar propelling arms are swingably mounted by the support 110, each of these aims being resiliently biased in one direction by a spring 130, each of the springs being of identical construction. As seen in FIG. 7, each spring includes a bight portion 132 which engages an associated propelling arm for biasing the propelling arm in one direction. Each spring also includes a pair of looped portions 134 which serve to support the spring on one of the shafts 120. Each spring in turn includes opposite legs 136 which extend from the looped portions and have hooks 138 at the outer ends thereof which engage around pins 140 extending between the two plates 1 12. These pins also serve as limit stop means for limiting an adjacent propelling arm in its swinging movement with respect to the support.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that each of the springs 130 tends to bias the associated propelling arm in a counterclockwise direction into engagement with an associated pin 140. Support 110 is normally rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow A, and the screw conveyor is actuated in such a direction so as to feed materials such as masonry from the feed hopper outwardly as indicated by arrows B so that the material drops downwardly to be engaged by arms 122 and moved into housing 100.

As the propelling arms are carried in a counterclockwise direction by the associated support, they come into engagement with the upper edge 142 of the housing which causes the arms to be cocked or swung in a clockwise direction around the associated shaft 120. The arms will then be carried around inside the housing in such cocked relationship until they reach portion 144 of the housing which has an increased radial dimension as compared with the remainder of the housing. When the arms reach portion 144, they are released so that each spring 130 is adapted to rapidly move the associated arm in a counterclockwise direction so as to propel masonry or other material from the housing onto a suitable surface.

It is apparent that this cycle of operation will be continuously repeated as long as the device is in use. The mounting base enables both the elevation and azimuth of the applicator device to be selectively adjusted, and the framework and associated support means and carriage further allow the applicator device to be moved both vertically and horizontally with respect to the moveable framework as desired.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive,

What is claimed is:

1. A material applicator device comprising a substantially semi-circular housing having a discharge opening, a support rotatably mounted within at least a portion of said housing, a plurality of propelling arms each of which is pivotally and swingably mounted on said support, means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction, feed means for feeding material to said arms and said housing, each of said arms engaging said housing upon rotation of said support such that the arms are caused to swing in a direction opposite to that in which the arms are resiliently biased, said housing including an arcuate release portion of enlarged radius for releasing each of said arms such that upon release the arms are forcibly swung by the associated resilient biasing means so as to propel material onto a suitable surface.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, including limit stop means for limiting the swinging movement of each of said arms in one direction.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction comprises spring means in engagement with each of said arms.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, including adjustable mounting means which provides adjustment of said applicator device both in elevation and azimuth.

5. A material applicator device comprising a substantially semi-circular housing having a discharge opening, a support rotatably mounted within at least a portion of said housing, a plurality of propelling arms each of which is pivotally and swingably mounted on said support, means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction and feed means for feeding material to said arms and said housing, said feed means including a feed hopper and conveyor means in communication with said feed hopper for conveying material from said feed hopper to said arms and said housing, a framework having means for supporting and adjusting said applicator device, feed hopper and conveyor means in both vertical and horizontal directions, said framework including a support means which is movable vertically relative to the framework, and a carriage means being supported on said support means and being movable in a horizontal direction with respect thereto. 

1. A material applicator device comprising a substantially semicircular housing having a discharge opening, a support rotatably mounted within at least a portion of said housing, a plurality of propelling arms each of which is pivotally and swingably mounted on said support, means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction, feed means for feeding material to said arms and said housing, each of said arms engaging said housing upon rotation of said support such that the arms are caused to swing in a direction opposite to that in which the arms are resiliently biased, said housing including an arcuate release portion of enlarged radius for releasing each of said arms such that upon release the arms are forcibly swung by the associated resilient biasing means so as to propel material onto a suitable surface.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, including limit stop means for limiting the swinging movement of each of said arms in one direction.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction comprises spring means in engagement with each of said arms.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, including adjustable mounting means which provides adjustment of said applicator device both in elevation and azimuth.
 5. A material applicator device comprising a substantially semi-circular housing having a discharge opening, a support rotatably mounted within at least a portion of said housing, a plurality of propelling arms each of which is pivotally and swingably mounted on said support, means resiliently biasing each of said arms in one direction and feed means for feeding material to said arms and said housing, said feed means including a feed hopper and conveyor means in communication with said feed hopper for conveying material from said feed hopper to said arms and said housing, a framework having means for supporting and adjusting said applicator device, feed hopper and conveyor means in both vertical and horizontal directions, said framework including a support means which is movable vertically relative to the framework, and a carriage means being supported on said support means and being movable in a horizontal direction with respect thereto. 